Mobile crusher

ABSTRACT

A mobile crusher, which has a high-quality controlling function enabling an efficient production, and which is capable of preventing the crusher itself from being damaged, is provided. For this purpose, a mobile crusher having a feeder ( 3 ) and a crusher member ( 4 ) which are set drivably on a mobile vehicle body ( 1 ), includes means ( 7 ) for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, which detects an amount (H) of a material ( 6   a ) to be crushed inside the crusher member ( 4 ), and control means ( 10 ) for receiving the amount H from the means ( 7 ) for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed and controlling a driving speed V of the feeder ( 3 ) changeably based on the reception amount H.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a crusher provided on a mobile vehiclebody.

BACKGROUND ART

As an example is shown in FIG. 11, a mobile crusher has a hopper 2provided on a mobile vehicle body 1, a feeder 3 provided at a bottomportion of the hopper 2, a crusher member 4 provided under an endportion of the feeder 3, a belt conveyor 5 provided under the crushermember 4, and the like. The feeder 3, the crusher member 4, and the beltconveyor 5 are driven by a feeder driving system, a crusher drivingsystem, and a belt conveyor driving system (each not illustrated). Anupper portion of the crusher member 4 is opened and faces to the endportion of the feeder 3, and a lower portion of the crusher member 4 isopened and faces to a top surface of the belt conveyor 5. According tothe above configuration, a material 6 a to be crushed, which is placedon the feeder 3 from the outside, is fed into the crusher member 4 fromthe upper opening of the crusher member 4 by the drive of the feeder 3,and is crushed by the drive of the crusher member 4. A crushed material6 b is discharged onto the belt conveyor 5 from the lower opening of thecrusher member 4 and is discharged out of the vehicle by the drive ofthe belt conveyor 5, as a product.

In the above mobile crusher, a synchronous control of the aforementionedthree driving systems has a profound effect on the productivity of thecrushed material 6 b. Thus, some crushers have target crushing amountsetting means (not illustrated) for inputting a target crushing amountA2 per unit time of the crusher 4, and actual crushing amount detectingmeans (not illustrated) for detecting an actual crushing amount B perunit time of the crusher 4. The crusher further has control means forcomparing the target crushing amount A2 and the actual crushing amountB, then as shown in FIG. 12, increasing the speed of the feeder 3 when“A2−B>0”, maintaining a driving speed V of the feeder 3 when “A2−B=0”,and decreasing the speed when “A2−B<0”. It should be noted that “A2” hasa predetermined range. Further, the following crushers are known.

(1)A crusher described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. 5-1315 isa stationary type, which has a sensor for detecting a rock when thelarge rock stays on a grizzly screen provided at the upper opening ofthe crusher, and a controlling device for automatically stopping thefeeder when the sensor detects the rock for a predetermined time.

(2) A mobile crusher described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-116541has a sensor for detecting overloading when a crusher is under overload, and a controlling device for automatically stopping the feederwhen the sensor detects the overloading.

(3) A mobile crusher described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-281140has a sensor for detecting an anomaly when the anomaly occurs at eachcomponent (including not only the feeder driving system, crusher drivingsystem, and the belt conveyor driving system, but also an engine, awater temperature in a generator and the like, oil hydraulic pressure,residual amount of fuel, and the like), and a controlling device forautomatically stopping the feeder when the sensor detects an anomaly.

According to the above prior arts, though they respectively contributeto productivity improvements, they have the following disadvantages.

(1) Though the details are described later, the actual crushing amount Bdirectly depends on the amount of the material 6 a to be crushed insidethe crusher member 4 from the view of the placement position of thecrusher member 4 and from the view of the crushing efficiency of thecrusher member 4. In spite of this, in the above conventional crusher,specifically, the crusher, which changes the driving speed V of thefeeder 3 based on the comparison result between the target crushingamount A2 and the actual crushing amount B, the detection result of theactual crushing amount detecting means provided at a downstream side ofthe crusher member 4 is reflected in the driving speed V of the feeder 3provided at an upstream side of the crushing member 4. As a result, alag inevitably occurs in the synchronization between the actual crushingamount B and the driving speed V of the feeder 3. Thereby thedisadvantage that the control of high quality is not obtained is caused.

(2) In the crusher described in each of the aforementioned OfficialGazettes, the feeder automatically stops when an anomaly occurs.Specifically, these prior arts are control arts when an anomaly occurs.Thus, the disadvantage occurs, in which, for example, a damage to thecrusher itself and reduction of productivity are caused.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned prior arts, an object of the presentinvention is to provide a mobile crusher which has a high-qualitycontrolling function enabling efficient production, and which is capableof preventing the crusher itself and the like from being damaged, bypreventing the occurrence of an anomaly.

The mobile crusher according to the present invention is made especiallyin view of the above “the actual crushing amount B directly depends onthe amount of the material 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member4”. This will be explained with reference to a jaw crusher in FIG. 1A toFIG. 3.

A jaw crusher 4 is one which is also placed on the example machine inFIG. 11, and as shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A and FIG. 3, a stationary plate4a and a swing jaw 4 b are adjustably placed to face to each other withan upper opening being large and a lower opening being small. A material6 a to be crushed is fed into a portion between the stationary plate 4 aand the swing jaw 4 b facing to each other (being the aforementioned “aninside of the crusher member 4”, and a so-called “crushing chamber”). Agrain diameter of a crushed material 6 b is determined by the dimensionof the lower opening.

[1] As shown in FIG. 1A, the stationary plate 4 a is fixed to a vehiclebody (not illustrated), but an upper end of the swing jaw 4 b isrotationally driven by an eccentric driving shaft 4 c, and a lower endthereof is freely supported by the vehicle body via a plate 4 d.Specifically, as shown in a skeleton drawing of linkage in FIG. 1B, themovement of the swing jaw 4 b approaches a linear movement a3 as acircular movement a1 at an upper portion by the eccentric driving shaft4 c proceeds to a lower portion. Accordingly, a crushing force F₀ perone rotation of the eccentric driving shaft 4 c produced by the swingjaw 4 b (specifically, the force F₀ in a vertical direction to thestationary plate 4 a) is distributed as shown in FIG. 1C.

[2] Assume that stones from a small stone (small material to be crushed)6 a to a large stone (large material to be crushed) 6 a are orderly fedinto the inside of the crusher member 4 from the small lower portiontoward the large upper portion as shown in FIG. 2A. In this situation, acrushing force F1 required for crushing each stone 6 a is distributed asshown in FIG. 2B. When the distribution (FIG. 2B) of the requiredcrushing force F1 is overlaid on the distribution of the crushing forceF₀ produced by the swing jaw 4 b in FIG. 1C, FIG. 2C is obtained. FIG.2C shows that when a height H of the material 6 a to be crushed insidethe crusher member 4 is large, the material 6 a to be crushed cannot beefficiently crushed. It should be noted that the amount of the material6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4 is equivalent to theheight H (the same shall apply hereinafter).

[3] Assume that small stones 6 a are fed into the inside of the crushermember 4 to fill the same as shown in FIG. 3. In this situation, thestones 6 a from the center to the lower portion of the crusher member 4directly receive the crushing force F₀ and are crushed, since thecrushing movement in this area gradually approaches the linear movementa3 (See FIG. 1B), and thus the power loss is small. However, as for thestones 6 a at the upper portion of the crusher member 4, since thecrushing movement in this area is the circular movement a1, the crushingforce F₀ has the components changing into the rotational movement ofeach stone 6 a itself, and the frictional force between the stones 6 a,and thus the expected crushing cannot be acheived. Specifically, notonly the power loss occurs to the stones 6 a at the upper portion of thecrusher member 4, but also the wear of the upper portions of thestationary plate 4 a and the swing jaw 4 b is promoted.

[4] As is obvious from the explanations in the above [2] and [3], theheight H of the material 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4is basically desired to be the height which does not include the upperportion of the inside of the crusher member 4 for efficiency of thecrusher member 4 (hereinafter, the upper limit height H is called“height HH”. See FIG. 2C).

[5] The actual crushing amount B is an absolute amount, and is notrelated to the efficiency of the crusher member 4. Consequently, even ifthe crushing efficiency is favorable in view of the crushing force F₀ ofthe c rusher member 4, if the crushing amount B is actually small, it ismeaningless. Specifically, based on the above explanations [2] and [3],if the height H of the material 6 a to be crushed inside the crushermember 4 is set at the lower portion of the crusher member 4, itfrequently happens that the material 6 a to be crushed does not existinside the crusher member 4. Since the crushed material 6 b falls as aresult of being pressed by the weight of itself and the weight of thematerial 6 a to be crushed at the upper portion, if the material 6 a tobe crushed doesn't exist at the upper portion, control of the producingspeed or the like becomes difficult. Specifically, the height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher 4 is desired to bebasically the height which doesn't include the lower portion inside thecrusher member 4 if the actual crushing amount B is considered(Hereinafter, the lower limit height H is called “the height HL”. SeeFIG. 2C).

[6] According to the above [4] and [5], in point of efficiency of thecrusher member 4, and in point of the actual crushing amount B, it canbe understood that the height H of the material 6 a to be crushed insidethe crusher 4 is desired to be set as “HL<H<HH” (See FIG. 2C). “HL” inthe embodiments described later is set to be about one third of theheight of the inside of the crusher member 4, and “HH” is set to beabout two thirds of the height.

[7] As for the crusher member 4, other than the above jaw crusher,various kinds of crusher members such as, for example, an impact type,shear type and the like are prepared. The impact type has a rotary plateand a crushed material discharge port at a lower portion of a crushingchamber, and a repulsion plate and an input port for the material to becrushed at an upper portion, and is the type in which the material to becrushed from the input port is repulsed by the rotary plate, is smashedto the repulsion plate to be crushed, and is discharged from thedischarge port. The shear type is the type in which the material to becrushed is fed into a portion between rollers rotating reversely to eachother separated by a predetermined distance to be crushed, and isdischarged from the lower portion. The conclusion of the above [6](HL<H<HH) is also applicable to these impact type, the shear type andthe like of crusher member 4 by detecting the height H of the material 6a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, a first aspect of a mobilecrusher according to the present invention is a mobile crusher includinga feeder and a crusher member each set drivably on a mobile vehiclebody, which feeds a material to be crushed, which is placed on thefeeder from an outside, into an inside of the crusher member from anupper opening of the crusher member by drive of the feeder, crushes thesame by drive of the crusher member, and discharges a crushed materialfrom a lower opening of the crusher member to the outside, and ischaracterized by including:

(a) means for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, whichdetects an amount H of the material to be crushed inside said crushermember; and

(b) control means for receiving the amount H from the means fordetecting the amount of the material to be crushed and controlling adriving speed V of the feeder changeably based on the reception amountH.

According to the aforementioned first configuration, since the drivingspeed V of the feeder is directly controlled according to the amount Hof the material to be crushed, occurrence of an anomaly can beprevented, and thus the crusher itself or the like can be prevented frombeing damaged. The quality of the control of the actual crushing amountB is improved, thus making it possible to efficiently produce thecrushed objects.

A second aspect is a mobile crusher including a feeder and a crushermember each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on the feeder from an outside,into an inside of the crusher member from an upper opening of thecrusher member by drive of the feeder, crushes the same by drive of thecrusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a lower openingof the crusher member to the outside, and is characterized by including:

(a) means for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, whichdetects an amount H of the material to be crushed inside the crushermember; and

(b) control means for previously memorizing reference values HL and HH(note that “HL<HH”), receiving the amount H from the means for detectingthe amount of the material to be crushed, comparing the amount H withthe reference values HL and HH, and

(b1) when “H<HL”, inputting a signal +ΔI to increase a driving speed Vof the feeder to a feeder driving system,

(b2) when “HL<H<HH”, inputting a signal I2 to maintain the driving speedV to the feeder driving system, and

(b3) when “H≧HH”, inputting a signal −ΔI to decrease the driving speed Vto the feeder driving system.

The above second configuration is a result of embodying the above firstconfiguration further in detail, and the result is as shown, forexample, in the control result in FIG. 6. Specifically, the height H ofthe material to be crushed inside the crusher member is basicallymaintained to be “HL<H<HH”. As a result, the most preferable mode isachieved in terms of the efficiency of the crusher member and the actualcrushing amount B.

A third aspect is a mobile crusher including a feeder and a crushermember each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on the feeder from an outside,into an inside of the crusher member from an upper opening of thecrusher member by drive of the feeder, crushes the same by drive of thecrusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a lower openingof the crusher member to the outside, and is characterized by including:

(a) target crushing amount setting means for setting a target crushingamount A2 per unit time of the crusher member;

(b) actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting an actualcrushing amount B per unit time of the crusher member;

(c) means for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, whichdetects an amount H of the material to be crushed inside the crushermember; and

(d) control means for receiving a target crushing amount A2 from thetarget crushing amount setting means, an actual crushing amount B fromthe actual crushing amount detecting means, and the amount H from themeans for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed, andcontrolling a driving speed V of the feeder changeably based on thereception amounts A2, B and H.

According to the above third configuration, in the mobile crusher havingthe target crushing amount setting means for setting the target crushingamount A2 per unit time of the crusher member, and the actual crushingamount detecting means for detecting the actual crushing amount B perunit time of the crusher member, in addition to the basic operationaleffects of maintaining “HL<H<HH” in the first and second configuration,the operational effect of rapid convergence on “B=A2” is provided.

A fourth aspect is a mobile crusher including a feeder and a crushermember each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on the feeder from an outside,into an inside of the crusher member from an upper opening of thecrusher member by drive of the feeder, crushes the same by drive of thecrusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a lower openingof the crusher member to the outside, and is characterized by including:

(a) target crushing amount setting means for setting a target crushingamount A2 per unit time of the crusher member;

(b) actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting an actualcrushing amount B per unit time of the crusher member;

(c) means for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, whichdetects an amount H of the material to be crushed inside the crushermember; and

(d) control means for previously memorizing reference values HML and HMH(note that “HML<HMH”),

(d11) a correction amount +C which is set correspondingly to a value notmore than the reference value HML,

(d12) a correction amount C (=0) which corresponds to a value betweenthe reference values HML and HMH, and

(d13) a correction amount −C which is set correspondingly to a value notless than the reference value HMH, receiving a target crushing amount A2from the target crushing amount setting means, an actual crushing amountB from the actual crushing amount detecting means, and the amount H fromthe means for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed,

(d21) when “H≦HML”, reading the aforementioned set correction amount +C,

(d22) when “HML<H<HMH”, reading the aforementioned correspondingcorrection amount C (=0), and

(d23) when “H≧HMH”, reading the aforementioned correction amount −Cpreviously memorized, and computing “A2−B+ the correction amount=D”, and

(d31) when “D=0”, inputting a signal +ΔI0 to increase a driving speed Vof the feeder to a feeder driving system,

(d32) when “D=0”, inputting a signal I2 to maintain the driving speed Vto the feeder driving system, and

(d33) when “D<0”, inputting a signal −ΔI0 to decrease the driving speedV to the feeder driving system.

The above fourth configuration is the configuration in which the abovethird configuration is embodied further in detail, and the result is asshown in the control result in, for example, FIG. 8. The details are asfollows. It should be noted that the reference values HL and HH whichare not described in the fourth configuration are described in FIG. 7 aswell as the reference values HML and HMH in the fourth configuration.Accordingly, these reference values are also explained below, but sincethey have the relationship “HL<HML<HMH<HH”, if the explanation relatedto the reference values HL and HH is skipped, it has no effect on theoperational effects of the fourth configuration. The reference value HLis the aforementioned lower limit value of the desired height of thematerial to be crushed inside the crusher member, while the referencevalue HH is the aforementioned upper limit value of the desired height.

Specifically, since the target crushing amount A2 is an index of theactual crushing amount B which can be attained in the crusher member,even if it changes every moment according to the property of thematerial to be crushed (B≠A2), if only “optimal control” is performed,it converges on “B=A2” even if some changes (B≠A2) occur. Such “optimalcontrol” is the fourth configuration. The correction amounts from +C to−C may be considered to be the correction for the target crushing amountA2, or may be considered to be the correction amount in computation forthe actual crushing amount B. Each mode from the upper row to the lowerrow in FIG. 8 will be explained in order below.

(1) Since “A2−B>0” is the state in which the actual crushing amount B issmaller than the target crushing amount A2, the driving speed V of thefeeder is desired to be increased. In this situation, when “H≦HML”, thematerial to be crushed inside the crusher member is rapidly gone, andcrushing movement without the material to be crushed occurs, thuscausing noises and a damage to the machine. Accordingly, in thissituation, the driving speed V of the feeder is increased.

(2) When “A2−B>0” as in the above, even if “HML<H<HMH (specifically,C=0)”, the driving speed V of the feeder is increased as in the above(1).

(3) However, even though “A2−B>0” as in the above, when “H>HMH(specifically, the correction amount −C)”, the amount H is close to theupper limit value HH, and therefore if the driving speed V of the feederis increased, there is the fear of “H>HH”. Thereby, the correctionamount −C is set. The correction value −C is set so that the negativevalue gradually increases as the amount H increases. According to theamount of the correction amount −C, three states of “A2−B−C>0”,“A2−B−C=0”, and “A2−B−C<0” occur. Thus,

(3a) In “A2−B−C>0”, the driving speed V of the feeder is increased as inthe above (1).

(3b) In “A2−B−C=0”, the driving speed V of the feeder is maintained.

(3c) In “A2−B−C<0”, there is the fear that the upper opening of thecrusher member is blocked by the material to be crushed since the amountH is larger than the above (3b). Accordingly, the driving speed V of thefeeder is decreased. From the above, in consideration of (3a) and (3b),since it is necessary to establish “H<HH” relative to any value of theA2, it is desirable to set the negative maximum value Cmin of the C tobe larger than the maximum value Amax of the target crushing amount A2.

(4) “A2−B=0” is the state in which the actual crushing amount B and thetarget crushing amount A2 are the same, and it is separated into thethree states of “H≦HML (specifically, the correction amount +C)”,“HML<H≧HMH (specifically, C=0)”, and “H>HMH (specifically, thecorrection amount −C)” according to the amount of the amount H of thematerial to be crushed.

(4a) Since the correction amount +C shows “H≦HML”, the driving speed Vof the feeder is increased to achieve “HML<H<HMH (specifically, C=0)”.

(4b) When “C=0”, the driving speed V of the feeder is maintained. It isnatural and the explanation is not required.

(4c) Since the correction amount −C shows “H>HMH”, the driving speed Vof the feeder is decreased to achieve “HML<H<HMH (specifically, C=0)”,thus preventing the upper opening of the crusher member from beingblocked by the material to be crushed.

(5) “A2−B<0” is the state in which the actual crushing amount B islarger than the target crushing amount A2, and thus it is desirable todecrease the driving speed V of the feeder. In this situation, when“H≦HML (specifically, the correction amount +C”, it is separated intothe three states of “A2−B+C>0”, “A2−B+C=0”, and “A2−B+C<0”.

(5a) When “A2−B+C>0”, since the actual crushing amount B is large, it isdesirable to decrease the driving speed V of the feeder, but the drivingspeed V of the feeder is increased to increase the feeding amount of thematerial to be crushed into the crusher member. As a result, a so-calledcrushing movement without the material to be crushed is prevented.

(5b) When “A2−B+C=0”, the driving speed V of the feeder is maintained.

(5c) When “A2−B+C<0”, the driving speed V of the feeder is decreased.From the above, in consideration of (5b) and (5c), it is necessary toachieve “H>HL” relative to any value of the target crushing amount A2,and therefore it is desirable to set the maximum value Cmax of the C tobe larger than the maximum value Bmax of the actual crushing amount B.

(6)When “A2−B<0” as in the above, if “HML<H<HMH (specifically, C=0), thedriving speed V of the feeder is increased.

(7) When “A2−B<0” as in the above and when “H≧HMH (specifically, thecorrection amount −C)”, it is desirable to decrease the driving speed Vof the feeder since the actual crushing amount B is large, but since theamount of the material to be crushed inside the crusher member is alsolarge, the upper opening of the crusher member is blocked by thematerial to be crushed according to the property of the material to becrushed. Accordingly, the driving speed V of the feeder is decreased.

Specifically, though the above (1) to (7) are each separately described,in the mobile crusher having the target crushing amount setting meansfor setting the target crushing amount A2 per unit time of the crushermember, the actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting theactual crushing amount B per unit time of the crusher member, the shiftbetween the modes from the above (1) to (7) is proceeded in order. Thus,in the fourth configuration, the operational effect of rapid convergenceon “B=A2” is provided in addition to the basic operational effect ofmaintaining “HL<H<HH” in the first to the third configuration.

If the correction amount +C in the above fourth configuration is set tobe a fixed value and larger than the maximum value of the actualcrushing amount B, and the absolute value of the correction amount −C isa fixed value and larger than the target crushing amount A2, in thefourth configuration,

(a) when “H≦HML”, the driving speed V of the feeder is increased,

(b) when “HML<H <HMH”, the driving speed V of the feeder is maintained,and

(c) when “H≧HMH”, the driving speed of the feeder is decreased, thusfacilitating the control. This resultant configuration shall be alsoincluded in the above fourth configuration.

A fifth configuration is a mobile crusher including a feeder and acrusher member each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on the feeder from an outside,into an inside of the crusher member from an upper opening of thecrusher member by drive of the feeder, crushes the same by drive of thecrusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a lower openingof the crusher member to the outside, and is characterized by including:

(a) target crushing amount setting means for setting a target crushingamount A2 per unit time of the crusher member;

(b) actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting an actualcrushing amount B per unit time of the crusher member;

(c) means for detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, whichdetects an amount H of the material to be crushed inside the crushermember; and

(d) control means for previously memorizing reference values HL and HH(note that “HL<HH”), receiving the target crushing amount A2 from thetarget crushing amount setting means, the actual crushing amount B fromthe actual crushing amount detecting means, and the amount H from themeans for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed, comparingthe amount H with the reference values HL and HH, and

(d21) when “H≦HL”, inputting a signal +ΔI1 to increase the driving speedV of the feeder to a feeder driving system,

(d22) when “HL<H<HH”, computing “A2−B=E”, and

(d221) when “E>0”, inputting a signal +ΔI2 to increase the driving speedV to the feeder driving system,

(d222) when “E=0”, inputting a signal I2 to maintain the driving speed Vto the feeder driving system, and

(d223) when “E<0”, inputting a signal −ΔI2 to decrease the driving speedV to the feeder driving system, and

(d23) when “H≧HH”, inputting a signal −ΔI1 to decrease the driving speedV to the feeder driving system.

The above fifth configuration is the configuration in which the featureof the correction amounts +C to −C is deleted, and the target crushingamount A2 and the actual crushing amount B are directly introduced. Inthis manner, the operational effect of rapidly converging on “B=A2” isprovided in addition to the basic operational effect of maintaining“HL<H<HH”. In the fifth configuration, the reference value is set to be“HL, HH (note that “HL<HH”), but they may be replaced by “HML, HMH (notethat HML<HH). This is because they are only the symbols for showing thedimensional relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are explanatory views of an operation of a jawcrusher;

FIG. 1A is a side view of an entire body;

FIG. 1B is a skeleton view of drive of a swing jaw; and

FIG. 1C is a distribution diagram of generating crushing power;

FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C are the other explanatory views of a jaw crusher;

FIG. 2A is a side view of an entire body;

FIG. 2B is a distribution diagram of required crushing force; and

FIG. 2C is a superimposed diagram of a distribution of required crushingforce and the distribution of generating crushing force;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of another operation of the jaw crusher;

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a configuration including a firstto a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control result of a driving speed of afeeder in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart in a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a control result of a driving speed of afeeder in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart in a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control result of a driving speed of afeeder in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a mobile crusher of a prior art; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a result example of a control of aconventional driving speed of a feeder.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 10. Example machines being a first, second,third embodiments are mobile crushers loaded with jaw crushers as inFIG. 11, and identical elements are given the same numerals and symbolsand the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The example machine being the first embodiment has a control systemshown by the solid line in FIG. 4. Specifically, it has means 7 fordetecting an amount of a material to be crushed (a detector fordetecting an amount of a material to be crushed), a feeder drivingsystem 8, a feeder reference speed setting dial 9, and a controller(control means) 10 electrically connecting with them. The details are asfollows.

The detector 7 for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed isprovided above an upper opening of a crusher member 4, emits anultrasonic wave 7 a toward an inside of the crusher member 4, receives areflected wave 7 b from a material 6 a (not illustrated) to be crushedinside the crusher member 4, detects a height H (specifically “an amountH”, hereinafter called the same) of the material 6 a to be crushedinside the crusher member 4, and inputs the same to the controller 10.It should be noted that the detector 7 for detecting the material to becrushed is placed at a position in which the ultrasound wave 7 a is hardto be emitted to the material 6 a to be crushed which is falling fromthe feeder 3 into the crusher member 4.

The feeder driving system 8 has a hydraulic pump 8 d which is driven byan engine 8 a loaded on the example machine to supply operatinghydraulic fluid from an operating hydraulic fluid tank 8 b to anelectromagnetic proportional valve 8 c. A hydraulic motor 8 e is placedat a downstream side of the electromagnetic proportional valve 8 c, andreceives pressure oil from the electromagnetic proportional valve 8 c tobe rotatable. A rotating shaft of the hydraulic motor 8 e ismechanically coupled to the feeder 3 via an eccentric shaft 8 f, and thefeeder 3 is driven in an X direction by the rotation of the eccentricshaft 8 f. A relief valve 8 g for specifying a maximum hydraulicpressure of the entire hydraulic circuit is provided between theelectromagnetic proportional valve 8 c and the hydraulic pump 8 d. Theelectromagnetic proportional valve 8 c receives a driving current I fromthe controller 10 to be switchable from a closed position (rightposition in FIG. 4) to an open position (left position in FIG. 4), andhas an amount of opening proportional to the magnitude of the drivingcurrent I.

The feeder reference speed setting dial 9 has a feeder stopping positionOFF and a non-step position Pi from low speed to high speed, and is madeswitchable by manipulation of an operator. The feeder reference speedsetting dial 9 inputs nothing to the controller 10 at the stoppingposition OFF, while at the non-step position Pi, it inputs a positionalsignal Pi (for example, a position P2) corresponding to its position.

The controller 10 previously memorizes a reference driving current Iicorresponding to the positional signal Pi. Accordingly, when receiving apositional signal P2, it reads out a reference driving current I2corresponding thereto from the memory and outputs the same as a drivingcurrent I2 to the electromagnetic proportional valve 8 c (I=I2). As aresult, the electromagnetic proportional valve 8 c is opened with theamount of opening corresponding to the reference driving current I2, anddrives the feeder 3 in the X direction at a driving speed V2. Ditto forthe other positional signals Pi. Hereinafter, in order to simplify theexplanation, it is assumed that the feeder reference speed setting dial9 is in the position P2 and that the positional signal P2 is inputted tothe controller 10 as described above.

As described above, the controller 10 receives the height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4 from the detector7 for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed. Then thecontroller 10 adds or subtracts ±ΔI to or from the reference drivingcurrent I2 based on a flowchart in FIG. 5, and thereby adds or subtracts±ΔV to or from the driving speed V2 of the feeder. Details will besubsequently explained with reference to FIG. 5. Though some steps arealready explained, they will be described step by step.

When the controller 10 receives the positional signal P2 (step S1), itcomputes the reference driving current I2 (step S2). The controller 10receives input of the height H of the material 6 a to be crushed insidethe crusher member 4 from the detector 7 for detecting the amount of thematerial to be crushed (step S3). The controller 10 previously memorizesa relationship between the height H and the magnitude of the current ±ΔIby means of a function, a matrix and the like. In the concrete examplesin FIG. 5, the controller 10 memorizes two large and small referencevalues HL and HH (HL<HH), the current +ΔI which gradually increases asthe height H becomes lower when “H≧HL”, and −ΔI which graduallyincreases as the height H becomes larger when “H≧HH”. It should be notedthat the current ±ΔI may be a fixed value. The reference value HLcorresponds to the aforementioned height HL, and is about one third ofthe entire height of the inside of the crusher member 4 in concrete.Meanwhile, the reference value HH corresponds to the aforementionedheight HH, and is about two thirds of the entire height of the inside ofthe crusher 4 in concrete (step S4). The controller 10 compares theheight H with the reference values HL and HH (step S5).

As also shown in FIG. 6, if the comparison result is “HL<H<HH”, thereference driving current I2 is maintained (I=I2), and the driving speedV2 of the feeder 3 is maintained (V=V2) (step S61). If “H≦HL”, thecurrent +ΔI is added to the reference driving current I2 (I=I2+ΔI), andthe driving speed V of the feeder 3 is increased (V=V2+ΔV) (step S62).On the other hand, if “H≧HH”, the current −ΔI is added to the referencedriving current I2 (I=I2−ΔI), and the driving speed V of the feeder 3 isdecreased (V=V2−ΔV) (step S63). Any one of the above steps S1 to S5, andsteps S61 to S63 is performed until the positional signal P2 does notexist (for example, until the feeder reference speed setting dial 9 isin the OFF position) (step S7).

The example machine in the second embodiment is constructed by includingthe detector 7 for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed,the feeder driving system 8, the controller 10, a target crushing amountsetting dial (target crushing amount setting means) 11, and an actualcrushing amount detector (actual crushing amount detecting means)12. Thedifferences from the above first embodiment are as in the following [1]to [3].

[1] The target crushing amount setting dial 11 has an OFF position and anon-step position Ai from small amount to large amount, and is madeswitchable by manipulation of an operator. The target crushing amountsetting dial 11 inputs nothing to the controller 10 at the stoppingposition OFF, while at the non-step position Ai, it inputs a positionalsignal Ai (for example, a positional signal A2) corresponding to itsposition. Hereinafter, in order to simplify the explanation, it isassumed that the non-step position Ai of the target crushing amountsetting dial 11 is in the position A2 and that the positional signal A2is inputted to the controller 10 as described above. Following thesetting or the setting of the change of the target crushing amount A2 bymeans of the target crushing amount setting dial 11, the driving speed Vof the feeder 3 corresponding to such setting is required, and thedriving speed V is set by adding ±ΔI0 to the driving current I at thetime. The current ±ΔI0 may be a fixed value, or a variable valuecorresponding to “A2−B+C (C is a correction amount described later)”.Here, if “A2−B+C=0”, the current ±ΔI0 is set at 0, and if “A2−B+C>0”,the current ±ΔI0 is gradually increased as the “A2−B+C” increases, whileif “A2−B+C<0”, the current ±ΔI0 is changed to approach 0 as “A2−B+C”approaches 0, thereby producing the operational effect of therelationship rapidly converging on the relationship “A2−B+C=0”(specifically “±ΔI0=0”), in other words, the relationship “B=A2 +C”.Specifically, the controller 10 outputs the driving current I at thetime to the electromagnetic proportional valve 8 c.

[2] The actual crushing amount detector 12 is a load sensor or the likeprovided at the belt conveyor 5, for measuring an actual crushing amountB per unit time (for example, per one minute) and inputting it to thecontroller 10. It may be suitable if the controller 10 receives adetected load from the load sensor and computes the actual crushingamount B per unit time.

[3] The controller 10 previously memorizes the crushable amount per unittime (for example, per one minute) of the crusher member 4 according toeach position of the positional signal Ai as a target crushing amountAi. The controller 10 has “the memory regarding the correction amount ±Cwhich determines the magnitude of a change amount ±ΔI of the drivingcurrent I”. Specifically, in the second embodiment, the “relationshipbetween the height H and the magnitude of the current ±ΔI” described inthe step S4 in the first embodiment, and the “input of the positionalsignal P2 into the controller 10” described in step S1 are notmemorized. A control of the second embodiment will be explained belowwith reference to a flowchart in FIG. 7. The height H of the material 6a to be crushed is explained with reference to the bottom portion of thecrusher member 4 as shown in FIG. 2 (C).

The controller 10 in the second embodiment receives the target crushingamount A2 from the target crushing amount setting dial 11 (step R1). Thecontroller 10 then receives the actual crushing amount B from the actualcrushing amount detector 12 and also receives the height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4 from the detector7 for detecting the amount of the material to be crushed (step R2). Atthis point of time, the controller 10 memorizes the driving current I.For convenience in the explanation, the driving current I to bememorized is called “I2” to correspond to the target crushing amount A2(step R3). The controller 10 previously memorizes the relationshipbetween the height H and the magnitude of the current ±ΔI by means of afunction, matrix, and the like as follows. In the concrete example inFIG.7, the controller memorizes four large and small reference valuesHL, HML, HMH, and HH, regarding the height H (HL<H<ML<HMH<HH), when“H≦HL”, the controller 10 memorizes a fixed correction amount +Cmax,when “HL<H≦HML”, it memorizes a correction amount +C graduallyincreasing as the height H decreases, when “HMH≦H<HH”, it memorizes acorrection amount −C gradually increasing as the height H increases, andwhen “H≧HH”, it memorizes a fixed correction amount −Cmin. Thecontroller 10 compares the height H from the detector 7 for detectingthe amount of the material to be crushed and the reference values HL,HML, HMH, and HH, and extracts the correction amount ±C from the memory(step R4).

The controller 10 computes the actual crushing amount B and thecorrection amount ±C as “A2−B+C=D”, and determines whether a resultantvalue D is plus or minus, or zero (step R5). As also shown in FIG. 8, ifthe determination result is “D=0”, the driving current I2 at this pointof time is maintained (I=I2), and the driving speed V2 of the feeder 3is maintained (V=V2) (step R61). If “D>0”, the current +ΔI0 is added tothe driving current I2 at this point of time (I=I2+Δ10), and the drivingspeed V2 of the feeder 3 is increased (V=V2+ΔV0) (step R62). On theother hand, if “D<0”, the current −ΔI0 is added to the driving currentI2 at this point of time (I=I2−I0), and the driving speed V2 of thefeeder 3 is decreased (V=V2−ΔV0) (step R63). Any one of the steps R1 toR5 and the steps R61 to R63 is carried out until the positional signalA2 does not exist (for example, until the target crushing amount settingdial 11 is in the OFF position) (step R7).

The example machine in the third embodiment has the same control systemas in the second embodiment. A control of the third embodiment will beexplained with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 9. The controller 10receives the height H of the material 6 a to be crushed inside thecrusher member 4 from the detector 7 for detecting the amount of thematerial to be crushed (step T1). As in step S4 of the first embodiment,the controller 10 previously memorizes the relationship between theheight H and the magnitude of the current ±ΔI1, and the correspondingcurrent ΔI1 from the height H inputted in step T1 (step T2). Thecontroller 10 memorizes the driving current I of the feeder 3 at thispoint of time (called “I2” as in the second embodiment) (step T3).

The controller 10 compares the height H it receives in step T1 with thereference values HL and HH (step T4). As also shown in FIG. 10, if thecomparison result is “H≦HL”, the current ΔI1 is added to the drivingcurrent I2 at this point of time (I=I2+A I1), and the driving speed V2of the feeder 3 is increased (V=V2+ΔV1) (step T5). On the other hand, if“H≧HH”, the current −ΔI1 is added to the driving current I2 at thispoint of time (I=I2−ΔI1), and the driving speed V2 of the feeder 3 isdecreased (V=V2−ΔV1) (step T6).

If “HL<H<HH”, the following processing is performed. The controller 10receives the target crushing amount A2 from the target crushing amountsetting dial 11, and receives the actual crushing amount from the actualcrushing amount detector 12 (step T7). The controller 10 computes thetarget crushing amount A2 and the actual crushing amount B as “A2−B=E”,and determines whether a resultant value E is plus or minus, or zero(step T8). As also shown in FIG. 10, if “E=0”, the driving current I2 atthis point of time is maintained (I=I2), and the driving speed V2 of thefeeder 3 is maintained (V=V2) (step T9, step T12). If “E>0”, the current+ΔI2 is added to the driving current I2 at this point of time(I=I2+ΔI2), and the driving speed V2 of the feeder 3 is increased(V=V2+ΔV2) (step T10, step T12). On the other hand, if “E<0”, thecurrent −ΔI2 is added to the driving current I2 at this point of time(I=I2−ΔI2), and the driving speed V2 of the feeder 3 is decreased(V=V2−ΔV2) (step T11, step T12).

The current ±ΔI2 may also be a fixed value, or a variable valuecorresponding to “A2−B”. Here, if “A2−B=0”, the current ±ΔI2 is set atzero, and if “A2−B>0”, the current ±ΔI2 is gradually increased as the“A2−B” increases, while if “A2−B<0”, the current ±ΔI2 is changed toapproach zero as “A2−B” approaches zero, thereby producing theoperational effect of the relationship rapidly converging on therelationship “A2−B=0” (specifically “+ΔI2=0”), in other words, therelationship “B=A2”. The above steps T1 to T12 are performed until thepositional signal A2 doesn't exist (for example, until the targetcrushing amount setting dial 11 is in the OFF position) (step T13, stepT14)

Other embodiments will be described below.

(1) The example machines being the above first, second and thirdembodiments are each described as a mobile crusher having the jawcrusher member 4 as in FIG. 11, but they may each have an impact type ora shear type of crusher member 4. In this case, if the height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4 is detected, itcan be handled as in the aforementioned first and second embodiment.

(2) The detector 7 for detecting the amount of the material to becrushed in the aforementioned first, second and third embodiment isplaced at the position at which ultrasonic waves are not emitted to thematerial 6 a to be crushed which are falling into the crusher member 4from the feeder 3, but it may be placed so that the ultraviolet wavesare emitted to the material 6 a to be crushed which are falling. In thiscase, it is desired that the controller 10 contains a low-pass filter,an arithmetic circuit and the like as follows. The height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed falling into the crusher member 4 from thefeeder 3 is an alternating-current component, since it varies accordingto the magnitude and the amount of the falling movement and the material6 a to be crushed. Compared with this, the height H of the material 6 ato be crushed inside the crusher member 4 is a direct-current component,since it is approximately fixed. Accordingly, with use of the low-passfilter, the height H of the material 6 a to be crushed inside thecrusher member 4, which is approximately a direct-current component canbe detected. The frequency of the detection of the height H of thematerial 6 a to be crushed falling into the crusher member 4 from thefeeder 3 varies according to the magnitude and the amount of the fallingmovement and the material 6 a to be crushed, but compared with this, thenumber of the occurrence of the height H of the material 6 a to becrushed inside the crusher member 4 is approximately fixed.Consequently, by including an arithmetic circuit for extracting theheight H with the number of occurrence being continuous, the height H ofthe material 6 a to be crushed inside the crusher member 4 can becomputed. With use of a circuit with low degree of sensitivity, or witha low computing speed, the height H of the material 6 a to be crushedinside the crusher member 4 can be detected. The feeder 3 is a feederdriven in an X direction, but it may be a vibrating feeder vibrating inthe directions other than the X direction.

(3) The absolute value of the current ±ΔI in the first embodiment isgradually increased, but each value may be a fixed value. By setting itto be a fixed value, the control is facilitated.

(4) In the aforementioned second embodiment, the controller memorizesfour large and small reference values HL, HML, HMH, and HH,(HL<HML<HMH<HH), and when “H≦HL”, the controller 10 memorizes a fixedcorrection amount +Cmax, when “HL<H<HML”, it memorizes a correctionamount +C gradually increasing as the height H decreases, when“HMH≦H<HH”, it memorizes a correction amount −C gradually increasing asthe height H increases, and when “H≧HH”, it memorizes a fixed correctionamount−Cmin, however, the following may be suitable. Specifically, when“HL<H ≦HML” and “HMH≦H<HH”, the correction amounts +C and −C are set tobe zero, and with two small and large reference values HL and HH(HL<HH), in “H≦HL”, even if the controller 10 memorizes the fixedcorrection amount +Cmax, and in “H≧HH”, even if the controller 10memorizes the fixed correction amount −Cmin, the operational effects arealmost the same as in the second embodiment.

(5) In the embodiment in the aforementioned item (4), the correctionamount Cmax may be set to be larger than the maximum value of the actualcrushing amount B, and the absolute value of the correction amount −Cminmay be set to be larger than the target crushing amount A2. By thissetting, the operational effects in the aforementioned secondembodiment,

(a) when “H≦HL”, the driving speed V of the feeder 3 increases,

(b) when “HL<H<HH”, the driving speed V of the feeder 3 is maintained,and

(c) when “H≧HH”, the driving speed of the feeder is decreased, thusfacilitating the control.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

The present invention is useful as a mobile crusher which has ahigh-quality controlling function enabling an efficient production, andwhich is capable of preventing the crusher itself and the like frombeing damaged by preventing the occurrence of an anomaly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile crusher including a feeder and a crushermember each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on said feeder from an outside,into an inside of said crusher member from an upper opening of saidcrusher member by drive of said feeder, crushes the same by drive ofsaid crusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a loweropening of said crusher member to the outside, said mobile crusherfurther comprising: (a) target crushing amount setting means for settinga target crushing amount A2 per unit time of said crusher member; (b)actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting an actual crushingamount B per unit time of said crusher member; (c) means for detectingan amount of a material to be crushed, which detects an amount H of thematerial to be crushed inside said crusher member; and (d) control meansfor receiving a target crushing amount A2 from said target crushingamount setting means, an actual crushing amount B from said actualcrushing amount detecting means, and the amount H from said means fordetecting the amount of the material to be crushed, and controlling adriving speed V of said feeder changeably based on said receptionamounts A2, B and H.
 2. A mobile crusher including a feeder and acrusher member each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds amaterial to be crushed, which is placed on said feeder from an outside,into an inside of said crusher member from an upper opening of saidcrusher member by drive of said feeder, crushes the same by drive ofsaid crusher member, and discharges a crushed material from a loweropening of said crusher member to the outside, said mobile crusherfurther comprising: (a) target crushing amount setting means for settinga target crushing amount A2 per unit time of said crusher member; (b)actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting an actual crushingamount B per unit time of said crusher member; (c) means for detectingan amount of a material to be crushed, which detects an amount H of thematerial to be crushed inside said crusher member; and (d) control meansfor previously memorizing reference values HML and HMH, (d11) acorrection amount +C which is set correspondingly to a value not morethan the reference value HML, (d12) a correction amount C (=0) whichcorresponds to a value between the reference values HML and HMH, and(d13) a correction amount −C which is set correspondingly to a value notless than the reference value HMH, receiving a target crushing amount A2from said target crushing amount setting means, an actual crushingamount B from said actual crushing amount detecting means, and theamount H from said means for detecting the amount of the material to becrushed, (d21) when “H≦HML”, reading said set correction amount +C,(d22) when “HML<H<HMH”, reading said corresponding correction amount C(=0), and (d23) when “H≧HMH”, reading said correction amount −C,previously memorized, and computing “A2−B+the correction amount=D”, and(d31) when “D>0”, inputting a signal +ΔI0 to increase a driving speed Vof said feeder to a feeder driving system, (d32) when “D=0”, inputting asignal I2 to maintain said driving speed V to the feeder driving system,and (d33) when “D<0”, inputting a signal −ΔI0 to decrease said drivingspeed V to the feeder driving system.
 3. A mobile crusher including afeeder and a crusher member each set drivably on a mobile vehicle body,which feeds a material to be crushed, which is placed on said feederfrom an outside, into an inside of said crusher member from an upperopening of said crusher member by drive of said feeder, crushes the sameby drive of said crusher member, and discharges a crushed material froma lower opening of said crusher member to the outside, said mobilecrusher further comprising: (a) target crushing amount setting means forsetting a target crushing amount A2 per unit time of said crushermember; (b) actual crushing amount detecting means for detecting anactual crushing amount B per unit time of said crusher member; (c) meansfor detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, which detects anamount H of the material to be crushed inside said crusher member; and(d) control means for previously memorizing reference values HL and HH,receiving the target crushing amount A2 from said target crushing amountsetting means, the actual crushing amount B from said actual crushingamount detecting means , and the amount H from said means for detectingthe amount of the material to be crushed, comparing the amount H withthe reference values HL and HH, and (d21) when “H≦HL”, inputting asignal +ΔI1 to increase the driving speed V of said feeder to a feederdriving system, (d22) when “HL<H<HH”, computing “A2−B=E”, and (d221)when “E>0”, inputting a signal +ΔI2 to increase said driving speed V tothe feeder driving system, (d222) when “E=0”, inputting a signal I2 tomaintain said driving speed V to the feeder driving system, and (d223)when “E<0”, inputting a signal −ΔI2 to decrease said driving speed V tothe feeder driving system, and (d23) when “H≧HH”, inputting a signal−ΔI1 to decrease said driving speed V to the feeder driving system.
 4. Amobile crusher including a feeder and a crusher member, each setdrivably on a mobile vehicle body, which feeds a material to be crushed,which is placed on said feeder from an outside, into an inside of saidcrusher member from an upper opening of said crusher member by drive ofsaid feeder, crushes the same by drive of said crusher member, anddischarges a crushed material from a lower opening of said crushermember to the outside, said mobile crusher further comprising: (a) meansfor detecting an amount of a material to be crushed, which detects anamount H of the material to be crushed inside said crusher member; and(b) control means for previously memorizing reference values HL and HH,receiving the amount H from said means for detecting the amount of thematerial to be crushed, comparing the amount H with the reference valuesHL and HH, and (b1) when “H≦HL”, inputting a signal +ΔI, which graduallyincreases according to a value of “HL−H” and which is a signal toincrease a driving speed V of said feeder, to a feeder driving system,(b2) when “HL<H<HH”, inputting a signal I2 to maintain said drivingspeed V to the feeder driving system, and (b3) when “H≧HH”, inputting asignal −ΔI, which gradually increases according to a value “H−HH” andwhich is a signal to decrease said driving speed V, to the feederdriving system.